Lately I've been Sewing For ...

The Sweet Cheeks, Art Caddy Swap, where the purpose was to add your flair to a simple pattern.

I was designated a little boy almost turning 3, so went for something with a cute applique and space for some great jumbo crayons or the giant tripod pencils, perfect for those little hands.

Its' the very first Art Caddy I have ever done and something I'd like to make more of.

Instead of a layer of flannel, I had some beautiful soft interfacing that I have used in many bags, which made for a nice padding or softness.

This Ryan's Art Caddy, his mum is keeping it to give to him for his 3rd Birthday which is coming up shortly, what a lucky little boy!

Applique prior to putting Caddy Together

(Above & Below)

Then there was the cute little number for Miss Ruby Rose. This little girl is utterly adorable and I can not wait to be able to post a picture of her adorned in her new outfit! Miss R's Mum brought the fabric and I popped it together for her, then completed the outfit with an appliqued elephant top (orange button eye) Notice the elephant's truck is pointing upwards signifying GOOD LUCK? I couldn't resist some little yo yo's as Miss R's, the talented Mumma G creates gorgeous hair accessories and I am looking forward to seeing what she has done with them! {before you ask why I haven't put buttons on them, Mumma G is quite handy with a needle and thread herself too, lol}

Overall thoughts, this is very CUTE!

Then there is little Baby Damien Riley, brother to D'Arcy and Matthew. This is part of his gift, I'm still working on a few little pieces, but have been trialling using terry towelling as bib backing and a few different shaped bibs. Very cute tractor fabric and it seems the little tie applique is a hit with mums and their baby boys! Who am I to deny sweetness?

Above (before button holes) & Below (finished pieces)

Wouldn't you know it, a few days after finishing
my self-covered button kit turned up in the mail! lol
Always the Way!

And lastly Jaxon, of whom I have been trying to make some simple play pants for home. At first I was excited, I was doing so well, following the pattern, adding a hem-band (with a gorgeous Riley Blake FQ I had), but all the time thinking, "boy these pant legs look a lot longer than Jaxon's legs!"

As you can see, what is meant to be a size 3 (according to the pattern I brought and Jaxon does normally wear size 3 pants) actually fit his older sister Jaida (who is in between a size 4 & 5 in leg length now) ... so unfinished, knee patches pinned on, these have gone back into the wardrobe with some extra fabric for an applique perhaps in 12 months time? I'm actually going to use this pattern just to whip up Jaida a pair of pants (same size) to wear under her Pre-School dress through winter! (so not a complete waste of time!)

As you do, I went back to the drawing board, and with a size 3 rise and a size 18 month leg length, I have a good final leg length for Jaxon (I guess it probably didn't help that I was sewing at night and couldn't try as I went as he was tucked up fast asleep in bed.) The 18 month leg length is a great length, but to achieve that hem band next time (now that Jaxon has tried these on and we have measured) we would have to cut at the 6 to 12 month leg length which would allow the hem-band to give that extra length!

Its' all a learning process and for me, with my children's own unique measurements, I am learning the artful skill of tailoring to their specific needs. I still have applique to go, a waist to finish sewing and a good iron! Never fear young Jaxon, Mumma B will have them finished soon!

Sewing Skirts with Odds & Ends

I've been having a bit of a clean up in my stash to donate some valued material scraps to the Middle Unit Art Room of C's school (their scrap stash was running a bit low.)

Sometimes you forget in your stash that you have scraps that are just the right size to make little projects such as skirts, and of course it always help when you also have scraps from the same co-ordinating range to make it go that bit further.

Size 5
Max Newman Spring Carnival Range
(one of the first fabrics I ever brought to start sewing with)



Size 4

Wonderland by MoMo ... (I had lots of fun with this range of fabric)



size 0

Wild Thyme by Carolyn Gavin /Lilla Rogers Studio
(which are also part of the co-ordinating fabrics
I ended up deciding on (to go with some sparkly stretch denim) for the
Pink Fig Sweet Heart Pants - still a work in progress)

March Sewing Round-up!

My Goodness, how quiet my humble blog has been of late! A quiet echo of nothingness ...

I am in awe that April encroaches so quickly, so a quick round up of some sewing that I have completed during March, (and yes although I missed the Feb knit sewing challenge due to lack of finding material (I do have hopes of making something from knit in 2010), there will be a softie making an appearance in the coming week or two!!) ...

March also saw a Janome over-locker join our area of creative chaos courtesy of the recent Aldi sale (and a kind teaching colleague needing replacing, hence funding my new purchase!) Its' purring along like beautifully, although 2 spools almost need replacing (wish me luck with those tiny knots!) I am locking the ease of over-locking and the beautifully finished seams it is creating! How have I lived for so long without it?

March Round-Up ...

Quilted Bibs ~ Just trying something a little different. I ended up making my own bias for the neckline and straps, I had been trying store brought bias to wrap around the entire outer edge of the bib and turn into straps, but I was having some "trauma" with evenness of the bias on each side (my bias may have been too wide for it as well.) .. I really like the softness of the bibs, so will trying a few more and a few different quilted designs (not my simple lines (lol))

Reversible Pinafores size 00 - This was just trialling a pattern that I brought off Etsy to create some little gifts for friends. The size 000 wouldn't even fit over Jaida's cabbage patch doll's head, so became rehashed with applix for the doll collection. The size 00 was more accommodating and has been promised to a couple of friends. I think if I were to make it again, I'd rather do a sweet little button hole join on the shoulders (so stay tuned.) .. I like how it is reversible though :)

Sweet Little Baby Skirts - These are all size 00 and just adorable, made from a simple fat quarter. Loving the ease of creation with the overlocker with these little skirts. All are going out as gifts :) And there has been requests for more! So sweet!

A little 0-12 month Caroline Dress - this was just to show a friend who wants to start sewing, what can be achieved with some scraps of fabric from your stash while your children sleep! I have gifted it ...

Another Super Twirly Skirt using some beautiful Amy Butler fabric (we have a holiday coming up so just adding some more skirts to Jaida's suitcase, although I think this one has a lot of growing room.) This time instead of the 3 joined pieces at the bottom, I used two long 42 inch strips, it pleased me greatly not having to fit that third seam into joining at the bottom, just beautiful matching side seams! I also used my gathering foot, this time with a tension of 6.

I am signing off for a week as well to have a much deserved sea-side recuperation with the family as well, so until then, happy sewing!

What to do with the left over material ....

Make yourself a skirt of course ....

This is the leftover material from the AB collection that I used to make the Amelia top, so I thought why not? ... I'll make a skirt (although a little on the short side (lol)) ...

I'm thinking for my next project that I'll lengthen the Amelia Top to just above the knees for a nice flowing summer dress ... Will keep you posted!

Sewing "wee" little skirts on a Wednesday

What better way to spend a Wednesday than sewing "wee" little skirts fit for any teeny weeny princess :) I do have someone in mind, so let's hope I have the waist measurement right!

I had a fat quarter of Angel Houses by Anne Sutton & Bunny Hill Designs for Henry Glass & Co (Pattern #1876) just waiting for the right project ~ so I thought I might try a couple of cute little skirts with it, red contrasting trim.

Sweet.

If only trees really sprouted little skirts ...

The daisy that just "grew" from the ground,
couldn't resist a snap on such a glorious morning.

Saturdays are for Sweet Little Skirts

Saturday's are for sewing sweet little skirts. Can any little girl have too many skirts in her wardrobe? I think not!

Following on from Sewing Inspirations, I did indeed have enough left over Dick & Jane fabric to create a sweet little skirt for Jaida, essentially using the measurements from the Make it Perfect Flipsy Skirt pattern, and incorporating the contrasting fabric strip at the bottom of the skirt.

What do you think? I think Jaida's new Dick & Jane skirt is a lovely bright and colourful addition to her wardrobe :) I'm thinking I may also have enough scrap fabric left over to create an applique on a couple of tops to complete her new outfit :)

Make It Perfect, Flipsy Skirt

I'm pleased to finally announce that I have finished my first "larger" sewing project, the flipsy skirt from Make It Perfect. I was really pleased with the finished product and Jaida has been enjoying her new outfits, complete with a new denim jacket with butterfly motif (a bargain off ebay!)

And the Flipsy is complete

After ardous weeks, I finally finished Jaida's FLIPSY SKIRT and I must say I was very proud with my overall efforts and Jaida has 2 new beautiful outfits to wear. This week our new denim jacket with butterfly motiff also arrived (courtesy of an ebay sale.)

Current Sewing Project - Flipsy Skirt

Well just thought I would share my latest sewing adventure, which is a work in action :)

Its' been so therapeutic (if I can say that) to have a new sewing project on the go.

A beautiful little reversible skirt from the Make It Perfect Range, called the Flipsy Skirt it also comes with designs to create perfect applique' tops to complete the desired look! ... Just heavenly!



Toni Coward has a beautiful range of patterns and is a very talented SAHM :) The material featured in the photographs on the flipsy pattern are part of range of fabrics designed by a lady
named Sandi Henderson. The fabric range is called Ginger Blossom.

I'm looking forward to getting my creative fingers on the actual material featured in the photos from pattern, but for now I'm using material from the Max New, Spring Carnival Range.

Sherbert Mint

Cotton Candy Mint

These lovely two prints make up each reversible main part of the skirt. The matching hem is spring spot mint (spotty) and the belt monostripe mint. I have yet to choose a colourful array of buttons for each loop!

Hopefully this project will be completed by mid next week :) And then onto the applique' top and next item on agenda.

Then I'm hoping to go onto the Pinny from Make it Perfect as well :) Material yet to be decided :)